Pyrocell, a joint venture between Setra and Preem, has begun production at Sweden's first pyrolysis oil plant for biofuels. The plant, located at Setra Kastet sawmill in Gävle, converts sawdust into non-fossil pyrolysis oil, which is then processed into renewable diesel and petrol at Preem's refinery in Lysekil. The plant is expected to produce around 25,000 tonnes of non-fossil pyrolysis oil per year, equivalent to the annual fuel consumption of about 17,000 cars. Pyrolysis is a process that turns waste products from the forest into oil, which can be refined into renewable fuels.
Jointly owned by Setra and Preem, Pyrocell was formed in 2018 based on the business concept of producing bio-oil from sawdust. Production at the groundbreaking plant – Sweden’s first pyrolysis oil plant for biofuels – is now underway.
“It’s brilliant that we have built a brand new factory from scratch and it’s now up and running. We have produced the first oil and we’re very proud of the plant,” says Anders Wigstein, Production Manager at Pyrocell.
Pyrocell’s plant is located at Setra Kastet sawmill in Gävle on Sweden’s Baltic coast. It converts sawdust, a residual product in Setra's industrial process, into non-fossil pyrolysis oil. The pyrolysis oil is then processed further to make renewable diesel and petrol at Preem’s refinery in Lysekil.
“Pyrocell is a unique industrial initiative that enables a sustainable value chain from forest to tank. We replace fossil oil and contribute to an increased share of renewables in fuels, producing lower carbon dioxide emissions," says Pontus Friberg, Executive Chairman of Pyrocell.
The plant will produce around 25,000 tonnes of non-fossil pyrolysis oil per year, equivalent to the annual fuel consumption of about 17,000 cars.
Pyrocell – from idea to finished factory
- In 2016, Setra launched a feasibility study on bio-oil production based on the rapid pyrolysis technology.
- This concept formed the basis for the application to the Government’s Klimatklivet initiative that was submitted in spring 2017. In early summer, it was announced that the plant had been granted SEK 117 million in investment aid.
- An environmental permit was gained in 2018.
- In 2018, the company Pyrocell was formed, jointly owned by Setra and Preem. The company’s business concept is to produce bio-oil from sawdust.
- Setra's and Preem's boards decided to invest in the pyrolysis plant in Gävle in 2019.
- In the summer of 2019, the construction project was manned and procurement of pyrolysis plant and sawdust handling systems started.
- The first ground was broken on 23 March, 2020.
- Production started on 2 September, 2021.
About pyrolysis
Pyrolysis is a process in which a substance is rapidly heated to a high temperature so that the solid material is vaporised and can be condensed into a liquid. Pyrolysis enables waste products from the forest, such as branches, roots, tops and sawdust, to be turned into oil, which can then be refined into renewable petrol and diesel.
About biofuels
In 2018, a total of around 9.5 million cubic metres of fuel was sold in Sweden, of which approximately 1.9 million was biofuel, according to the Swedish Petroleum and Biofuels Institute (SPBI). Around 15 percent of all biofuel was produced in Sweden, with the rest being imported from other countries.